City seeks additional property

The Sault Ste. Marie City Commission took a major step forward in acquiring key parcels of property adjacent to Ashmun Bay Park.

“The key is having control of the property to initiate funding requests,” said City Manager Spencer Nebel early today.

One of the parcels in question is a little under 3 acres and will include the property south of the Power Canal and west of Portage Avenue which serves as the entrance road to Ashmun Bay Park.

A second parcel, adjacent to the first, would also change hands for a different purpose. Nebel explained that this .37 acres may someday be utilized for a bridge column in the event that the International Bridge decides to expand the number of lanes coming into the U.S. Customs Plaza to facilitate traffic flow from Canada.

The last remaining parcel is a 2.15 acre strip that runs between the railroad tracks and Ashmun Bay. Known as Parcel D, this particular stretch would be critical for a future trail system that would cater to hikers, bikers and perhaps even snowmobile traffic. Expansion could someday bring that trail network out beyond the coal dock into the Cannelton Site — or old tannery — as the majority of contaminants have been removed from that property, making it eligible for foot and bike traffic.

“This is a good investment for Sault Ste. Marie’s long term future,” wrote Nebel in making his report to the commission. “I believe that in the long run, Ashmun Bay Park will be a critical resource for the community due to its strategic location.”

While there is no exact timeline on any of the proposed improvement, Nebel said once the city takes ownership of the available parcels there would be a number of state and federal grants that could become available in the future.

The State of Michigan is bearing the lion’s share of the costs, according to Nebel, pledging $160,707 while the city will be responsible for $59,575.

The parcels are being sold by the Wisconsin Central Division of the Canadian National Railroad Company.